1
as in wise
displaying or marked by rude boldness
the nervy waiter held up the small tip and called out to the departing customers, "Hope it doesn't break the bank!"
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adventurous
inclined or willing to take risks
nervy rock climbers wanting to make gravity-defying ascents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nervous
feeling or showing uncomfortable feelings of uncertainty
I'm a little nervy about my first job interview
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nervy
The best track on Trying Times channels the nervy brilliance of 2023’s Playing Robots Into Heaven, which dug into his dance music past without resorting to nostalgia.
—
Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
There was not one false move or false reaction in that nervy performance — one of the best of the year.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Are nervy Arsenal still title favourites?
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Nasir Uddin Khan gives a performance of sturdy, man-of-the-people authority, gradually slipping into nervy self-doubt, as Jahir, a high school history teacher popular with both his students and the general community in the small rural town of Mohoganj.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nervy
Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
There was not one false move or false reaction in that nervy performance — one of the best of the year.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
Are nervy Arsenal still title favourites?
—Matt Slater, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Nasir Uddin Khan gives a performance of sturdy, man-of-the-people authority, gradually slipping into nervy self-doubt, as Jahir, a high school history teacher popular with both his students and the general community in the small rural town of Mohoganj.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nervy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nervy
Adjective
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Straight men are just catching up, vanity-wise, and political opportunists have eagerly fed into their insecurities.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The obvious comparison would be Lily Allen’s West End Girl, another heartbreak concept album that captured the public imagination by aiming big, narrative-wise, stretching out the story song by song.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For travelers with an adventurous spirit, Costa Rica’s South Pacific is a dream come true.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Mar. 2026
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Air travel in the early days was a little too adventurous for the average consumer.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Who isn’t nervous meeting the prospective in-laws for the first time?—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Jason Bateman delivers the mundane analogy like a pro, blending sincerity and uncertainty inside his singular, nervous vocal rhythms.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Opt for matte black for a modern farmhouse look or get cheeky with a glossy green.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
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Each rendezvous, complete with soap opera–worthy drama—hoarding, cheeky teasing, Alex Honnold–worthy climbing, slow-mo acrobatics, and aggression that made gathered onlookers gasp—further cemented our similarities as species.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even Haghighi’s daring sense of form—his cornucopia of tones, styles, and genres—reflects his grandfather’s masterwork and suggests an expansion of Golestan’s audacious and original aesthetic.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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That took place two days after they were captured by US forces in a daring operation in Venezuela’s capital.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Her advice to anyone who is worried about giant hogweed is to take steps to identify it.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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So, should human artists be worried?—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Stucco, gold leaf, and frescoes now decorate them; some details are delicate, and others are bold.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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Israel moves fast, launching a bold military operation against a weaker Middle Eastern neighbor.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The most fearless of daredevils shouldn’t pass up a trip to Mindanao to paraglide above the jungle or raft the whitewater of Cagayan de Oro all year round.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
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Unhinged and fearless, the show embodied the album’s spirit.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nervy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nervy. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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